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Background: Cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1A1) is an important enzyme in the metabolism of acetaldehyde and the synthesis of retinoie acid. Two polymorphisms in the promoter region of ALDH1A1—ALDH1A1*2 and ALDH1A1*3—have recently been identified and described in small samples of Asian, Caucasian, and African individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of these polymorphisms in a sample of Southwest California Indians and to test for associations with alcohol dependence and other substance-related behaviors. Methods: The participants in this study were 463 adult men and women recruited from 8 contiguous Indian reservations. A structured interview was used to gather information on demographics, psychiatric diagnoses, and personal drinking and drug use history. A blood sample was obtained from each participant, and leukocyte DNA was extracted and used to genotype for the presence of the ALDH1A1 promoter polymorphisms. Results: Twenty-seven participants (6%) possessed ALDH1A1*2 (frequency, 0.03), two participants possessed ALDH1A1*3, and one participant displayed both of these alleles. Individuals with an ALDH1A1*2 allele had lower rates of alcohol dependence and regular tobacco use than those without this allele. Individuals with ALDH1A1*2 also reported a significantly lower maximum number of drinks ever consumed in a 24-hr period, reported drinking fewer drinks per occasion when they first started drinking regularly, and reported lower expectations of alcohol's effects compared with individuals without this allele. Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that ALDH1A1*2 may be associated with protection from the development of alcohol and other substance use disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents abstracts of studies on enzyme regulation and allosterism, presented at the Experimental Biology/International Union of Physiological Sciences 2005 congress held in San Diego, California. "Regulation of Glutamate Dehydrogenase by Protopine and Alkalized Extracts From the Tuber of Corydalis Ternata," by Myung-Min Choi, Jae-Wan Huh et al.; "Characterization of an Aldehyde Dehydrogenase From Euglena Gracilis," by Jose Rodriguez-Zavala; "Epitope Mapping of Monoclonal Antibodies to Fetal Bovine Serum Acetylcholinesterase," by Carolyn Chambers, Weiyi Liu et al.

The article elaborates on the study conducted by Daria Mochly-Rosen and colleagues from the Stanford University regarding the significance of protein in reducing heart damage in Stanford, California. Researchers undertake the experiment on mice and they found that proteins reduces heart damage and could hold the key to protecting humans against a potentially life-threatening condition, reduction of blood flow to the heart or cardiac ischaemia. They found that increased activity of a protein called aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is correlated with reduced damage following cardiac ischaemia. The researchers then isolated a compound called Alda-1 that activates ALDH2, also reducing heart damage by ischaemia.